The Gaza war of 2023: A tragedy and an opportunity
The war that erupted in Gaza on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli border towns, killing hundreds of civilians and taking hostages, was a tragedy of epic proportions. It was also a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as it exposed the failures of both sides and the need for change.
The war, which lasted for more than three months, claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis, displaced millions more, and destroyed much of the infrastructure and economy of Gaza. It also shattered the hopes of many who had invested in the peace process, which had been stalled for years.
The war revealed the futility of violence as a means to achieve political goals. Hamas, which had hoped to gain legitimacy and popularity by attacking Israel, only brought more misery and isolation to its people. Its claims of victory were hollow and deceptive, as it inflated the casualty numbers and hid the extent of its losses. Its military wing, Al Quds, was severely weakened by Israel’s relentless airstrikes and ground invasion, which targeted its tunnels, rockets, and commanders.
Israel, which had hoped to deter Hamas and restore its deterrence, only provoked more hatred and resentment among the Palestinians. Its use of overwhelming force and collective punishment, which caused many civilian casualties and widespread damage, was condemned by the international community and human rights groups. Its inability to rescue the 21 hostages, who may have been killed by Hamas, was a source of national trauma and shame.
The war also exposed the shortcomings of the media, which often failed to provide accurate and balanced coverage of the events. Many media outlets, especially in the Arab and Muslim world, uncritically repeated Hamas’s propaganda and ignored the suffering of the Israeli civilians. Some media outlets, especially in the West, focused on the disproportionate impact of the war on the Palestinians and ignored the context and causes of the conflict.
The war, however, also created an opportunity for a new beginning. It showed that the status quo is unsustainable and that a political solution is urgently needed. It also showed that there are voices of reason and moderation on both sides, who reject violence and extremism and seek coexistence and peace.
One such voice was a Gazan who posted a message on Telegram, criticizing Hamas for the invasion and praising the Oslo Accords for bringing some benefits to the Palestinians. He wrote: “We want to live like human beings, not like animals. We want to have electricity, water, schools, hospitals, jobs, and freedom. We want to have peace with our neighbors, not war. We want to have a state of our own, not a prison. We want to have dignity, not humiliation.”
His message resonated with many Palestinians and Israelis, who shared his sentiments and aspirations. His message also reminded many of the potential of the peace process, which had been launched in 1993 with the historic Oslo Accord, signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat at the White House. The Oslo Accord, which recognized the mutual right to exist of Israel and the Palestinians, and provided for Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza, was a breakthrough that opened the door for further negotiations and cooperation.
The peace process, however, was derailed by many obstacles and challenges, such as the assassination of Rabin by a Jewish extremist, the rise of Hamas and its suicide bombings, the expansion of Israeli settlements, the second intifada, the failure of the Camp David Summit, the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier, the disengagement from Gaza, the Hamas takeover of Gaza, the three Gaza wars, the Fatah-Hamas split, the Trump Peace Plan, and the Gaza war of 2023.
The peace process, however, is not dead. It can be revived and resumed, if there is enough political will and public support on both sides. The war has shown that there is no military solution to the conflict, and that the only way forward is through dialogue and compromise. The war has also shown that there is a common interest and a common humanity between the Israelis and the Palestinians, who share the same land and the same fate.
The war has also created a new regional and international context, which can facilitate the peace process. The Arab Peace Initiative, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and endorsed by the Arab League, offers a comprehensive and realistic framework for resolving the conflict, based on the two-state solution and the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps and a just solution to the refugee problem. The initiative also promises full normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab and Muslim world, which would enhance the security and prosperity of the region.
The Abraham Accords, which were signed by Israel and several Arab countries in 2020 and 2021, under the auspices of the United States, also offer a new opportunity for dialogue and cooperation, which can benefit the Palestinians as well. The accords, which normalized diplomatic and economic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, were motivated by mutual interests and concerns, such as countering Iran’s influence and diversifying the sources of energy and trade. The accords, however, also expressed support for the two-state solution and the rights of the Palestinians, and called for the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The United States, which has been the main mediator and sponsor of the peace process, also has a crucial role to play in reviving and advancing it. The Biden administration, which took office in January 2021, has expressed its commitment to the two-state solution and its opposition to unilateral actions that undermine it, such as annexation and settlement expansion. The administration has also restored the aid and diplomatic relations with the Palestinians, which were cut off by the Trump administration, and supported the humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
The war in Gaza was a wake-up call for both Israelis and Palestinians, and for the world. It was a reminder of the urgency and the necessity of ending the conflict and achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace. It was also a reminder of the possibility and the potential of doing so, if there is enough courage and vision on both sides. The war was a tragedy, but it can also be an opportunity. It can be the catalyst for a new era of peace and cooperation, or the harbinger of more violence and despair. The choice is ours.
